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Crew Communications News

31 May 2023

MetalCraft Awarded $31 Million USCG Patrol Boat Contract

(Photo: MetalCraft Marine)

Boatbuilder MetalCraft Marine Inc. (MCM) announced it has been awarded a $31 million contract from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) as part of the Long-Range Interceptor (LRI) III program. This is the second contract MCM has received for the design and build of their 11-meter high-speed Interceptor patrol boat.“Our previous Interceptor for the Coast Guard, the 11M LRI II, proved to be a very successful platform,” said MCM contracts manager Bob Clark. “The LRI II was the first design


26 May 2023

Polembros Shipping to Trial Starlink LEO

Image courtesy Polembros Shipping

Marlink will install the Starlink LEO service for Athens-based ship manager Polembros Shipping, aimed at helping Polembros to extend its digital toolset to include the new LEO service to support crew welfare and remote technology.Polembros is already a user of Marlink’s hybrid network, including VSAT services across its fleet. The deployment of the SeaLink NextGen service is designed to provide faster throughput and lower latency to the company’s business and crew communications.Sealink NextGen combines GEO VSAT and MSS back-up with customers’ required mix of LEO or MEO connectivity


09 Jan 2023

UNI-TANKERS' Fleet Transition to Marlink's Hybrid Network Complete

©UNI-Tankers, via Marlink

Maritime satellite communications company Marlink has completed the migration of UNI-TANKERS’ owned fleet to its global hybrid network solution.The Danish shipping company UNI-TANKERS selected Marlink as an expert partner to support its digital transformation, combining hybrid high-throughput connectivity with cloud-data access, remote IT support, and proactive cyber security to improve performance and operational safety. UNI-TANKERS runs a fleet of approximately 40 owned and chartered oil and chemical tankers.

12 Apr 2022

Marlink's Secure IT Management for Socatra Tankers

Credit: Marlink

Smart network company Marlink has extended its service provision to France-based tanker company Socatra providing high-speed connectivity as well as secure IT management.Socatra provides solutions for deep-sea and inland oil transportation."[Socatra] recognized the need to improve the performance and quality of IT systems, which posed a risk to compliance and operational performance and required a comprehensive approach to upgrading hardware and software on board the vessel," Marlink said.According to Marlink


31 Mar 2022

Marine Learning Systems wins Inmarsat's "Ferry Open Innovation Challenge"

Photo courtesy Inmarsat

E-learning technology and service provider secures £10,000 grant to implement proof of concept for end-to-end crew training solution aboard working ferryInmarsat announced that e-learning technology and service provider Marine Learning Systems (MLS) as the winner of the its inaugural Ferry Open Innovation Challenge, a competition inviting start-ups and SMEs to propose digital solutions that promise to enhance the working lives of ferry crews. Launched in January 2022 in collaboration with the largest ferry operator in Greece


22 Feb 2022

Marlink's Hybrid Network Solution for Subsea 7's Global Fleet

Marlink will provide a secure hybrid network solution to Subsea 7, combining its global Sealink VSAT solution with L-band back-up, global 4G cellular services and connection to the Tampnet network.

Marlink, a smart network solutions provider, will provide a global hybrid network solution to vessels operated by Subsea 7, a subsea installation giant in the offshore energy industry space.Marlink will provide a secure hybrid network solution to Subsea 7, combining its global Sealink VSAT solution with L-band back-up, global 4G cellular services, and connection to the Tampnet network for operations in the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.The contract, of an undisclosed value


07 Sep 2021

Lloyd’s Register Partners with Inmarsat for Remote Survey Solution

(Photo: Lloyd’s Register)

Classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) and mobile satellite communications company Inmarsat announced they are partnering to provide a connectivity solution that will address challenges experienced during remote surveys.The new solution uses LR Remote, a specifically engineered application for remote inspection that enables crew members to livestream video, photos and audio from on board a ship to an LR technical specialist located elsewhere and will be empowered by Inmarsat’s Certified Application Provider (CAP) dedicated bandwidth service called Fleet Connect


17 May 2021

Taiwan Navigation Selects Inmarsat's Fleet Connect

Mobile satellite communications company Inmarsat said JRC (Japan Radio Company Co. Ltd.) has joined its group of Certified Application Providers (CAP) offering applications via Inmarsat’s dedicated Fleet Connect bandwidth.The announcement follows the trial of JRC’s Smart Ship Viewer (SSV) bridge solution onboard Taiwan Navigation’s Handymax bulk carrier Tai Splendor. As a result of the trial, Taiwan Navigation has now contracted to use Fleet Connect and JRC’s Smart Ship Viewer across its eight newbuildings and eight existing vessels.“The SSV is a networked bridge and communications management solution with capabilities including ship monitoring


06 Apr 2021

Inmarsat Inks Satcom Deal with Clearwater Seafood

(File photo: Clearwater Seafood)

Mobile satellite communications company Inmarsat said it as secured an an agreement with Clearwater Seafood that commits Canada’s largest vessel-operating seafood company to Fleet Xpress high-speed maritime broadband services.Clearwater Seafood chose to install the Fleet Xpress combination of high speed Ka-band and continuous FleetBroadband backup on board seven vessels replacing Ku-band services on each vessel. Deployed off Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, each vessel is being fitted with GX100NX antennas from Intellian.“Robust connectivity for the crew is imperative for Clearwater


27 Oct 2020

Intellian Launches C700 Iridium Certus Maritime Terminal

Intellian’s 12-patch C700 Iridium Certus antenna (Photo: Intellian)

Touting strong RF performance, Intellian said its newly launched C700 Iridium Certus maritime terminal can deliver out-of-the-box uplink speeds of 352kbps and downlink speeds of 704kbps by default, with equally impressive low-elevation-angle RF efficiency thanks to its unique 12-patch phased array antenna technology. It will support three high-quality, low-latency phone lines simultaneously; and as a solid-state antenna with no moving parts inside, the C700 is especially robust


21 Oct 2020

Bandwidth Efficiency will Drive Maritime Digitalization

Applied Satellite Technology (AST)

Gregory Darling and Applied Satellite Technology (AST) works with shipowners to help them use their bandwidth more efficiently for ship business and crew needs.When Gregory Darling, Group MD, AST, worked in the marine industry in the 1980s with a marine survey company, he needed to get word to one of his ships off of West Africa to recalibrate its course and head off to a new job. But the ship had left port, and radio calls to the ship went unanswered, resulting in two days of lost time and revenue.“That was frustrating and costly


12 Nov 2018

Digital Marine Communications in ‘Fast Attack’ Mode

David Clark Over-the-Head style digital headsets provide outstanding comfort, clear audio and voice transmission clarity for reliable crew communications.

Among the most important considerations in outfitting any fast attack craft is the critical nature of crew-to-crew communications. With David Clark, MetalCraft has long had that box ‘checked.’There are many obstacles facing boat manufacturers involved in the design and outfitting of patrol interceptor type vessels. This workboat segment is characterized by incessant demands for advanced design and new technology to accommodate the requirements of high performance and increasingly complex mission protocols.

20 Aug 2018

NSSLGlobal Brings Iridium CertusSM to Maritime Customers

NSSLGlobal has signed a Service Provider agreement with Iridium Communications Inc. that will see NSSLGlobal offer the new Iridium Certus L-Band service as part of its portfolio of maritime satcom offerings to its extensive customer base. Iridium Certus will be offered both as a standalone L-Band service and in conjunction with NSSLGlobal’s premier VSAT IP@SEA service as its preferred service assurance offering. The Iridium Certus service is suitable for vessels across the maritime spectrum, from recreational yachts and workboats to commercial fishing trawlers and merchant vessels.Iridium Certus will initially offer speeds of up to 352kbits but by early 2019 this will double to 704kbits ensuring that the service will be the most global and fastest L-Band satellite solution available.

20 Jul 2018

Maritime Operators Embrace Digital Transformation

Courtesy of Intelsat

As maritime operators deal with challenging operating conditions, many are embracing digitalization as the most reliable way to lower operational costs and improve vessel efficiency.According to research conducted by Lloyds List Intelligence and Ovum, two-thirds of vessels use digitalization systems onboard. According to the executives surveyed, this is being driven by a desire to improve operating efficiency, with 88 percent already working toward that goal. As part of the process


19 Jul 2018

Commercial Maritime's Great Migration to VSAT

Malcolm McMaster, President, Globecomm Maritime

Shipowners who want to get the value out of data, applications and smarter shipping have realized that VSAT is the new L-Band, says Malcolm McMasterAt Globecomm we spend as much time as possible talking to shipowners about their communications needs. It’s always a rewarding conversation because we hear about what they actually do with bandwidth, which gives us insight into what systems and solutions might suit them best.Over the last decade that would almost always mean L-Band satellite systems; but this is changing.

29 May 2018

Zodiac Maritime Extends VSAT Deal

Aura Installation on Zodiac Dorset Vessel  (Photo: Satcom Global)

International ship management company Zodiac Maritime has extended its satellite communications agreement with Satcom Global, rolling out flagship VSAT service, Satcom Global Aura, across its globally trading fleet of tankers, bulk carriers and container ships. To date, 36 vessels are live on the Aura network enjoying reliable high-speed communications, and upwards of 80 will be installed on Zodiac-managed vessels by the end of the year.Committed to providing seafarers with a superior quality of life aboard its vessels


26 May 2017

Asian Maritime Sector Ready for More VSAT

© dani3315 / Adobe Stock

A Marlink commissioned survey of Asian ship owners has confirmed that many shipping companies are ready to embrace the increased capacity and greater data usage enabled by maritime VSAT. Marlink initiated the survey to further deepen its understanding of the Asian markets, align its service development roadmap and ensure the specific needs of Asian customers are met with flexible, cost-effective and innovative new communication services. A key finding of the survey showed that


07 Jan 2017

Satcom Global Aura Bringing Seafarers Closer

Did you know that there are approximately 1.6 million seafarers today, and that 69% of those recently surveyed say access to crew communications at sea influences their choice of employer? Statistics show that the crew communications market value exceeded $1.39 billion USD last year and although 89% of seafarers understand and feel comfortable using satellite communications technology, there are 78,000 crew who never have access to it. Only 56% of crew always have access to crew communications, and with crew welfare continually a hot topic, increasing access to quality and real-time communications whilst at sea puts owners in a stronger position to attract and retain the right crew.

24 Oct 2016

UASC Upgrades Sat Connection with Marlink

United Arab Shipping (UASC) has installed Marlink’s news, entertainment and television solution XChange Media on 44 vessels. The product provides on-demand multi-lingual content to crew personal devices in an alternative manner to on-board satellite TV. UASC’s fleet is already equipped with Sealink, Marlink’s global high quality VSAT service, which provides seamless IP connectivity to optimise fleet management and electronic document handling systems, whilst providing significant bandwidth for crew communications. Deployment of XChange Media across the UASC fleet was carried out remotely and completed in less than a week. UASC increases crew satisfaction in a cost-efficient way through the provision of daily updated content on XChange Media.

26 Apr 2016

Cobham, Inmarsat Enable Smart Shipping for Nanjing Tankers

Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT.L), and Cobham SATCOM today announced that their partner Beijing Marine Communication & Navigation Company Ltd. (MCN) has won the largest Inmarsat Fleet Xpress installation project to date, with Nanjing Tanker Corporation of China. Just two weeks after the launch of Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress service, the agreement brings always-on, next generation high-speed broadband capability worldwide to 70 ships; delivering ‘smart shipping’ connectivity to drive performance optimisation and a step change in crew communications and welfare for Nanjing Tanker Corporation (NTC) vessels. “Nanjing Tanker Corporation has been pivotal in China’s expansion in oil


14 Apr 2016

Nanjing Tankers Implements 'Smart Shipping' Connectivity

SAILOR antennas for largest Fleet Xpress install project (Image: Inmarsat)

Inmarsat and Cobham SATCOM announced that their partner Beijing Marine Communication & Navigation Company Ltd. (MCN) has won the largest Inmarsat Fleet Xpress installation project to date, with Nanjing Tanker Corporation of China. Just two weeks after the launch of Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress service, the agreement brings always-on, next generation high-speed broadband capability worldwide to 70 ships; delivering ‘smart shipping’ connectivity to drive performance optimization and a step change in crew communications and welfare for Nanjing Tanker Corporation (NTC) vessels.

17 Dec 2015

World's Largest Cargo Ships Do IT Remotely

MSC Zoe (Photo: MSC)

With Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Zoe’s inaugural voyage completed this summer, the largest containership ever built is now operating with high-speed Marlink Maritime VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) on board. Marlink VSAT services provide connectivity for operational and crew communications on MSC Zoe and 130 other MSC ships. MSC is also saving time and money with a suite of integrated IT solutions designed to reduce network administration on board and provide easy access to communication services for crew, all enabled by the XChange communications management platform from Marlink.

24 Nov 2015

EASTMED to Add VSAT on 20 Tankers and Bulkers

Greece-based Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Limited (EASTMED), a shipping operator servicing the energy, industrial and agricultural sectors, has chosen to install Marlink’s global VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) communication solution with L-band back-up on 20 tankers and bulkers. EASTMED aims to achieve greater operational efficiency to support its clients with cost efficient transportation in a safe environment. The VSAT solution will be completed with the full SkyFile suite to provide EASTMED crew with high-level Internet access and cost-effective communication. Marlink’s innovative VSAT solution will provide significant levels of bandwidth for vessel and business communication, helping EASTMED to improve e.g.

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